How to Build a Gallery Wall (Without Overthinking It)

A gallery wall looks like the kind of thing you need an eye for. In truth it is mostly planning, and a bit of patience with a pencil. Done well it turns a blank wall into the best part of a room. Here is how to get there without the guesswork.

Start with a feeling, not a theme

The most common mistake is matching everything too tightly. A wall of near identical prints reads flat. Instead, pick a loose thread to hold it together. That might be a palette, soft greens and warm neutrals, or a subject, like a mix of botanical prints in different styles. The prints can vary as long as something quietly connects them.

If you are not sure where to start, botanicals are the easiest win. They sit happily together and suit almost any room, which is why our botanical prints are the most popular starting point for a first gallery wall.

Pick an odd number

Three, five or seven pieces tend to look more natural than even numbers. An odd count gives you a centre to build around and stops the wall feeling like a grid. Mix a couple of larger prints with several smaller ones so the eye has somewhere to land.

Plan it on the floor first

Lay everything out on the floor below the wall and move it around until it feels right. Keep a roughly even gap between frames, around five centimetres works for most walls. Once you are happy, cut paper templates the size of each frame and tape them to the wall with masking tape. Stand back, live with it for a day, then hang. This one step saves a wall full of spare nail holes.

Frames are yours to choose

All of our prints are sold unframed, which is the point. It means you can pick frames that suit your room rather than ours. For a calm, considered wall, keep to one frame colour. For something with more character, mix natural wood and black. If you want help choosing, our guide on framing unframed prints walks through it.

Build it over time

A gallery wall does not have to arrive all at once. Some of the best ones grow. Start with three prints you love, leave room, and add as you go. If you would rather start with a ready pairing, a set of two or three prints designed to work together takes the guesswork out entirely.

Whatever you hang, the rule is the same. Choose things you actually want to look at, and the wall will look like you.